Ebony and Jet publisher John H. Johnson dead at 87
Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:50 pm
CHICAGO John H. Johnson borrowed 500 dollars in 1942, and over the next six decades he built a publishing empire that chronicled the Black American experience.
Johnson, whose Ebony and Jet magazines covered blacks when mainstream media did not, died today at age 87. His cause of death was not immediately released.
After publishing the Negro Digest for three years, Johnson founded Ebony magazine. His depictions of notable African-Americans helped boost the circulation from 25-thousand copies in November of 1945, to about two (m) million per month today. The company's Jet magazine has been published weekly since 1951. Johnson Publications also owns Ebony Man magazine and Fashion Fair Cosmetics.
Johnson sent a salesman to Detroit every week for ten years before an automaker agreed to buy ads in Ebony.
Johnson, whose Ebony and Jet magazines covered blacks when mainstream media did not, died today at age 87. His cause of death was not immediately released.
After publishing the Negro Digest for three years, Johnson founded Ebony magazine. His depictions of notable African-Americans helped boost the circulation from 25-thousand copies in November of 1945, to about two (m) million per month today. The company's Jet magazine has been published weekly since 1951. Johnson Publications also owns Ebony Man magazine and Fashion Fair Cosmetics.
Johnson sent a salesman to Detroit every week for ten years before an automaker agreed to buy ads in Ebony.
